Myanmar low-cost high-reliability energy storage

This study is the first to explore the benefits of utilising STORES as a primary storage medium to support 100% renewable electricity futures in Southeast Asia. STORES can facilitate high penetration of variable solar and wind energy in electricity systems through energy time shifting and load levelling.

Rapid increases in electricity consumption in Southeast Asia caused by rising living standards and population raise concerns about energy security, affordability and environmental sustainability. In this study, the role of short-term off-river energy storage (STORES) in supporting 100% renewable electricity in Southeast Asia is investigated.

Within all the scenarios, the duration of storage is in the range of 0–38 h, which means hours or days of short-term energy storage are required in Southeast Asia rather than weeks or months of long-term, seasonal energy storage.

In the low and medium electricity consumption scenarios as included in Table A of Appendix, the storage requirements reduce by 87%–89% and 62%–71%, respectively. In other words, there is a trade-off between energy storage (energy time-shifting) and electricity transmission (energy geo-shifting) in balancing of the renewable energy systems.

Due to the geographic constraints, in Brunei and Singapore, however, battery storage systems were used and responsible for the energy time-shifting. The availability of effectively unlimited low-cost technically mature storage in the form of off-river pumped hydro is critical for these renewable electricity scenarios.

In the Smart Energy System, the flexibility of energy systems is created by the synergy of multiple energy sectors including electricity, transport, buildings and industry. Variable renewable energy resources can be converted into renewable electro-fuels and thermal energy through bridging energy technologies.